Rivers Year 7

Titles Aims and objectives
How does water move in a system? ● Describe the key components of a drainage basin.
● Distinguish between inputs, flows, stores and outputs of
the hydrological cycle
How does a river change throughout its ● Distinguish the characteristics that make the upper,
course? middle and lower courses unique.
● Understand how discharge, velocity, width, depth and
load particle size change throughout the course of a
river.
● Explain why land use varies at different points along a
river
What landforms are created by erosion ● Explain how oxbow lakes, waterfalls and potholes are
along a river? formed by the 4 types of erosion.
● Draw their creation from memory.
What landforms are created by deposition ● Explain how levees are formed.
along a river? ● Explore the Nile and people’s reliance on flooding along
the river.
What factors lead to flooding? ● Distinguish between the human and physical factors
that lead to flooding.
● Explain how different factors can create differently
shaped storm hydrographs.
What can be done to reduce flooding? ● Define hard and soft engineering
● Evaluate the effectiveness of different flood
management strategies.
Can you control flooding in Wetburg? ● Justify the flood defences for Wetburg
How do humans use and abuse rivers? ● Investigation of the Blue Nile and the river is used and
abused.
● Understand how different stakeholders conflict over
how the river is managed.
How do humans use and abuse rivers - Where, How it is used? What management is being
research task (2 lessons) undertaken? What do different stakeholders believe?
What are the potential solutions?
CORE QUESTION:
Title: River Introduction

DNA: Why are rivers important? What are the ways Rivers
contribute to a community?
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

By the end of this lesson you should be able to...
1. The key portions of a river basin.

Aims And Objectives
Tributaries, Watershed, confluence, source,

mouth.
Make a note of these

objectives and tick them off as
we work through the lesson.
Moving water has energy. The faster it moves the more energy it has. Rivers have energy, and they can wear things down, move
things and carry them along as they flow. We call this the work of the river. The faster a river flows, the more energy it has and the
Everyone listening
more work it can do.
Streams and rivers alter the landscape by redistributing material through the three processes of erosion, transportation and
deposition.
The river erodes mud, soil and other material from places, transports it down stream and deposits somewhere else.
This changes the shape of the landscape
Create definitions for each of the bold words.

Copy the model into
Working Together
Your exercise book
And include the
Right labels.
Based on the labels make a definition
POWER RECAP
For each term A-E.

Check your definitions from the previous diagram and correct them.
Individual Work
What Have We Learned?
Tell me three important things you learned about rivers today.

Write three quiz questions for your partner in your book based on today’s learning.
Finally:
Draw a small emoji in your book based on what you have learned today.
Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

CORE QUESTION:
Title: River Basin

DNA: (See the paper on your desk)
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today: Discharge, Occupied Channel Width, Channel Depth, Average Velocity,
1. River characteristics, you should be able to understand the basics of river

Aims And Objectives
hydrology

Draw the following in your exercise book:
Everyone listening
Discharge
What is Discharge?
Working Together
What happens to discharge as it travels downstream?
Why?
Occupied Channel Width
What is Occupied Channel Width?

Working Together
What happens to the occupied
channel width downstream?
Why?
Channel Depth
What is Occupied Channel Depth?

Working Together
What happens to the channel depth
as it travels downstream?
Why?
Average Velocity
What is average velocity?

Working Together
What happens to the average velocity
Why?
Load Quantity
What is Load Quantity?

Working Together
What happens to load quantity
Why?
Load Particle Size
What is Load Particle Size?

Working Together
What happens to load particle size
Why?
Channel Bed Roughness
What is Channel Bed Roughness?

Working Together
What happens to the channel bed roughness
Why?
Slope Angle (Gradient)
What is Slope Angle?

Working Together
What happens to the slope angle
Why?
Draw a Model of a River the demonstrates the following
Individual Work
How do all parts of this model relate to erosion?

Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

CORE QUESTION:
Title:
DNA:
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

Aims And Objectives

Everyone listening
Working Together
POWER RECAP
Individual Work
Finally:

Lesson Title Aims and objectives: Key words:
1 How does a river Aims and objectives: Upper course

change throughout ● Explain how a river’s characteristics change throughout its Middle course
its course? course. Lower course
Basin
Tributary
Confluence
Watershed
Estuary
2 How are the key Aims and objectives: Meanders

features of a river ● Explain how rivers shape the land Erosion
created? ● To form waterfalls and meanders. Deposition
Waterfall
Under-cuting
Plunge pool
Gorge
Retreat
3 How do humans Aims and objectives: HEP

use and abuse ● Explain the economic and cultural importance of rivers. Trade
rivers? ● Explore the ways humans threaten rivers. Spiritual
Pollution
Industry
4 Can rivers be Aims and objectives: Hard engineering

controlled? ● Identify flood control measures along a river Soft engineering
● Explain how they work Causes
● Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses Impacts
Responses
5 What are the key Aims and objectives: Headlands
features along a ● Explain how headlands and bays are formed Bays
coastline? ● Explain the key features of a headland Spits
● Explain how spits are formed by longshore drift. Longshore Drift
Arch
Stack
Stump
Prevailing wind
6 How do humans Aims and objectives: Microplastic

use and abuse ● Explain how our dependence on plastics impacts marine Ecosystems
the coastline? ecosystems Food chains
7 Can the coastline Aims and objectives: Hard engineering

be controlled? ● Identify coastal management features along a coastline Soft engineering
● Explain how they work Groynes
● Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses Gabions
Sea walls
Managed retreat
Beach nourishment
8 Can you control Aims and objectives:

the coast? ● Apply previous lesson’s learning to save the people of
Meontown
Assessment
PRINT FOR LESSON
CORE QUESTION: How do rivers and coasts shape the landscape and society?
Title: How does a river change throughout its course?

DNA: How many differences can you spot between these two images?
Think size and depth of river as well as landscape either side of river.
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for
today:
● Upper
course
● Middle
course
● Lower
course
● Basin
● Tributary
● Confluence
● Watershed
● Source
● Mouth
1. To name a number of features of a river and its drainage basin.

Aims And Objectives
2. To know that a river has 3 courses and to be able to start to describe them.
3. To begin to explain why a river changes throughout its courses.

Some rivers are large and some small but all share similar landforms and
physical processes. (MAP from memory activity- also good for remote
learning)
Title: A diagram to show the main
features of a drainage basin.
Everyone listening
What it looks like from above:
Everyone listening
Some rivers are large and some small but all share similar
landforms and physical processes. Match the key word
below (HEAD) to its definition (TAIL)
TAIL
HEAD
Individual Work
1. This is where two rivers meet.

A. Drainage basin 2. This is where the river ends by flowing into the sea or a
B. Watershed lake.
C. Confluence 3. This is the area of land from which rainwater drains into
D. Tributary the river.
E. Source 4. This is when a smaller river joins a bigger one.
F. Mouth 5. This is where a river starts.
6. This is the imaginary line that separates one drainage
basin from the next. Its is usually an area of high
grounds like mountains or hills.
Extension: Write everything and anything about the river Thames in Oxford
Mark your own answers giving yourself 1 mark for each
correct sentence.
Everyone listening
A3. Drainage basin is the area of land from which rainwater drains into the river.
B6. Watershed is the imaginary line that separates one drainage basin from the next.
Its is usually an area of high grounds like mountains or hills.
C1. Confluence is where two rivers meet.
D4. Tributary is when a smaller river joins a bigger one.
E5. The source is where a river starts.
F2. The mouth is where the ends by flowing into the sea or a lake.
What do all good meals and a river have in common?
Working Together
THINK-PAIR-SHARE:
There is a clue in the picture

to the left!
ANSWER: Both have 3

courses
The 3 courses of a river and its long profile Copy and use the word bank
to fill in the missing words:
River’s have ________ courses.

The upper course is usually the
_________ and this is where you
Everyone listening
find the __________ of the river.

In the ________ course the slope
gets less steep. In the
________course the land is
_________ and the river wide
and deep. This is also where you
find the _________ of a river.
Word bank: steepest source lower

three middle mouth flat
Extension: What might be the most

fun course of a river and why?
Quiz: 7. In which of the 3 courses is this
1. Where do rivers start? picture taken? Justify your answer.
2. Where do rivers end?
3. What is it called when two

rivers meet?
4. What is the area of land called
that’s drained by a river and its
tributaries?
5. What usually makes up a
watershed between two
different drainage basins?
6. Name the 3 courses of a river?
Finally:

Title: How are the key features of a river created?

DNA:Unscramble the letters to find the key words from last lesson!
Keywords for today:

Do It Now Activity
● Repup seurco ● Meanders

● Didlem coseru ● Erosion
● Deposition
● Rowel scureo ● Oxbow lake
● Waterfall
● Sinba ● Undercutting
● Buttriary ● Plunge pool
● Gorge
● Ceeuocnfln ● Retreat
● Aterhedws ● Geology
● Rusoce
Title: How are the key features of a river created?

DNA:Unscramble the letters to find the key words from last lesson!
Keywords for today:

Do It Now Activity
● Repup seurco ● Upper course ● Meanders

● Didlem coseru ● Middle course ● Erosion
● Deposition
● Rowel scureo ● Lower course ● Oxbow lake
● Waterfall
● Sinba ● Basin ● Undercutting
● Buttriary ● Tributary ● Plunge pool
● Gorge
● Ceeuocnfln ● Confluence ● Retreat
● Aterhedws ● Watershed ● Geology
● Rusoce ● Source
1. Explain how rivers shape the land

Aims And Objectives
2. To form waterfalls and ox-bow lakes

How water interacts with the landscape.
Water can wear away, move and drop material. We call these three processes:
Everyone listening
Erosion - the wearing away of the rock and soil of a landscape.
Transportation - the movement of the rock and soil of a landscape.
Deposition - when rock and soil carried by water is dropped.

The velocity (speed) of a river decides whether
erosion, transportation or deposition occurs.
Everyone listening
Questions/tasks:
What do you think the red arrow

represents?
What is the relationship between river

velocity and river processes?
Meander - a
Copy the diagram into your book!
bend in a river.
Think, pair share: write a theory to explain how these were created!
Working Together
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped lake that forms

when a wide meander of a river is cut off,
creating a free-standing body of water.
How water interacts with the landscape...
The following slide contains a
diagram to show how ox-bow
lakes are formed.
You will have one minute to look

Everyone listening
at the diagram and remember as

much as you can.
You will then have another minute

to copy as much of it into your
book.
Who can be first to complete the

diagram with all the important
details?
An oxbow lake is a U-shaped
lake that forms when a wide
meander of a river is cut off,
creating a free-standing body
of water.
Pens down eyes up!
Individual Work
Watch this geography classic!
As you watch, listen out
for and write down any
Everyone listening
words that you think

sound geographical?
Try to match the keywords with the definitions yourself and then check with your answers with your
partner.
1)Waterfall The landform created by a waterfall retreating

Working Together
2)Gorge When the edge or a waterfall moves

upstream
3)Undercutting Where water flows over the edge of a vertical
drop.
4)Retreat The deep pool at the base of a waterfall
caused by erosion.
5)Plunge pool When soft rock is eroded underneath hard
rock.
partner.

upstream
PRINT

drop.
caused by erosion.
rock.
partner.

upstream
PRINT

drop.
caused by erosion.
rock.
Answers:
1)Waterfall
2 The landform created by a waterfall retreating
Working Together

4 upstream
1 drop.
5 caused by erosion.
3 rock.
Waterfall comic strip
Create a comic strip showing how a waterfall works.

Individual Work
Your diagrams must be annotated with the key-words from

the previous activity.
Extra points for making your comicstrip colourful.
Bonus: Can you add an extra box to your comic strip to

show the waterfall retreating upstream to form a gorge?
A cartoon to show how a waterfall works:
PRINT
Finally:

Water power is a HEP dams create no Farmland and villages are
renewable energy source harmful pollution flooded and lost when the
and so will not run out. reservoir fills up.
They are reliable and can They are very expensive to Sediments can no longer
be switched on and off in build. freely flow downstream to
seconds. fertilise farmland or
PRINT
maintain estuary landforms

and deltas.
If the dam isn’t looked after Fish and other river The electricity created is
it could collapse and flood creatures can no longer relatively cheap and
villages and towns swim upstream to spawn constant.
downstream. (breed).
Title: How do humans use and abuse rivers? Economic

DNA 1: How many river landforms can you name in map 1? Is activity is
this the upper, middle of lower course of the river Thames? work you earn
money from.
Do It Now Activity
DNA 2: How has the river Thames

helped London in terms of economic
activity?
1. To have an understanding of why and how rivers are important to human

Aims And Objectives
beings.
2. To describe what HEP is and how it works and some of its positives and
negatives.
3. To know where the Ganga river is and why its is so polluted.

objectives and tick them off
as we work through the
lesson.
Rivers have always and still play a major role in terms of
humans and economic activity. Match the key word below
(HEAD) to its definition (TAIL)
TAIL
HEAD
Individual Work
1. Hydroelectric power is power created from the energy of

A. Trade falling or fast flowing water.
B. HEP 2. The buying and sellings of goods and items.
C. Pollution
3. . The release of harmful materials and chemicals into the
air or water.
Fun extension: Unscramble the anagrams below of the worlds five longest rivers.
pipiMississ Neil zAmoan tzeYgan eisnieY

One way for a country to develop and become wealthier and for
its people to have a better quality of life is to build HEP dams.
Everyone listening
Watch video the first time

and just listen and watch.
The second time we will

stop the clip and jot down
some notes in our exercise
books.
Read the 4 stages of creating electricity using HEP.
Put the stages in order of 1-4 and create a flow chart of how electricity
is created using HEP dams.
Everyone listening
The turbine then turns a

generator which creates
electricity
The electricity is transferred

back to the transmissions lines
and can then be used
Water from a river is held back

by the dam and a high reservoir
is created behind the dam
Water is then released and flows

quickly towards the turbine
making it turn
Copy this flowchart into your books to help you to understand how
water is used to create electricity.
Everyone listening
3 The turbine then turns a

generator which creates
electricity
4 The electricity is transferred

back to the transmissions lines
and can then be used
1 Water from a river is held back

by a dam and a high reservoir is
created behind the dam
2 Water is then released and flows

quickly towards the turbine
making it turn
Think-pair-share The Hoover Dam on the Colorado River USA-
built between 1931-1936
One of you will be student A
and the other student B.
Working Together
Student A will read notes and

think about how HEP works.
Student B will think about the

positives and negatives of it.
Then you will in your pairs

exchange your thoughts with
each other.
Finally you will all share your

thoughts and ideas with the
class.
Create a key and colour each statement green for positives and red for negative.
Water power is a renewable HEP dams create no harmful Farmland and villages are
energy source and so will not pollution flooded and lost when the
run out. reservoir fills up.
Individual Work
They are reliable and can be They are very expensive to Sediments can no longer freely
switched on and off in seconds. build. flow downstream to fertilise
farmland or maintain estuary
landforms and deltas.
If the dam isn’t looked after it Fish and other river creatures The electricity created is
could collapse and flood can no longer swim upstream relatively cheap and constant.
villages and towns to spawn (breed).
downstream.
Go further: Choose your top positive and negative and write them out in your book. Next to each
say “This is the biggest positive in my opinion because …….” Do the same for the top negative.
Humans aren’t very good at looking after or
managing rivers and often they get polluted.
Everyone listening
The Ganges in India is a sacred

river to Hindu people. However it
is also one of the world’s most
polluted rivers.
Make a list of all the things that

humans can pollute rivers with.
Retrieval:
1. Name the 3 processes carried out by rivers.
2. Where do rivers start and finish?

3. Name 2 river landforms.
4. How has the river Thames helped London to grow into a major
world city?
5. What does HEP stand for?
6. Describe one positive of HEP?
7. Describe one negative of HEP?
8. Where is the Ganga river?
9. Who is the Ganga river holy or sacred to?
10.How is the Ganga river being polluted?
Finally:

Title: Can rivers be controlled? (2 lessons)

DNA: look at this photo taken in Oxford. Write a list of ways
people and the environment may be affected by flooding.
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

● Hard engineering
● Soft engineering
● Causes
● Impacts
● Responses
● Environmental
● Social
● Economic
1. Use photos to explain the impacts of flooding in Oxford

Aims And Objectives
2. Evaluate different flood prevention methods.

How do geographers categorise the impacts of natural hazards?
Everyone listening
Social impacts: impacts that affect people's

health, happiness and lifestyles.
Economic impacts: impacts that affect people’s
wealth, job prospects and businesses.
Environmental impacts: impacts that affect
nature and the surroundings.
Sort the statements into social, environmental and economic by drawing the correct symbol in each box.
Businesses flooded Schools closed Railway tracks Sewage released into

submerged and train waterways
Everyone listening
journeys cancelled
Electricity supplies Increased insurance Crops damaged / Livestock drowning

disrupted costs destroyed
Bridges washed away Families re-homed as Post traumatic stress Strain on emergency
damaged houses are disorder (PTSD) and services.
repaired. other mental health
issues.
Decrease in house Habitat destruction. Debris washed into Money has to be spend
valuations. waterways and out into on flood defences by
sea. the local council /
government.

journeys cancelled

PRINT
issues.
government.

journeys cancelled

PRINT
issues.
government.
Everyone listening - ANSWERS Sort the statements into social, environmental and economic by drawing the correct symbol in each box.

journeys cancelled

issues.
government.
Unscramble the river related words!
ANSWERS:
1. ERNDEAM
POWER RECAP
2. LLAFRETAW 1. Meander
3. XO-WOB KALE 2. Waterfall
3. Ox-bow lake
4. LUNPEG LOOP 4. Plunge pool
5. SIONERO 5. Erosion BONUS:
6. TTTAANNRRSPOORI 6. Transportation Can you
7. SITIONDEPO 7. Deposition remember what
8. Gorge the words
8. GGORE mean?
Using no more than half a page, draw a mini table like this:
Working Together
Human causes of flooding Physical causes of flooding
Deforestation Heavy rainfall

Urbanisation Snow/ice melt
Climate change Geology
Dam construction Tsunami
In pairs, think of reasons why flood occur.

How can rivers be controlled?
Humans have come up with a variety of ways to control rivers with varying
effectiveness.
Everyone listening
All strategies can be grouped into either of the following groups:
Hard engineering - The use of man made structures / alterations to

control nature
Soft engineering - The use of natural solutions to work alongside

nature
Title: Can rivers be controlled? (2 lessons)

DNA: Unscramble these key words.
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today: Keywords for today:

● Rahd gingeeinren ● Hard engineering
● Tofs gingeeinren ● Soft engineering
● uescas ● Causes
● Istcpam ● Impacts
● Pnosersse ● Responses
● tlaenirovmnen ● Environmental
● liosca ● Social
● Nomiecoc ● Economic
Title: Can rivers be controlled? (Part 2)
Firstly, write these keywords in your book

Do It Now Activity
Hard engineering - The use of man made

structures / alterations to control nature
Soft engineering - The use of natural Hard engineering Soft engineering
solutions to work alongside nature
Secondly , Draw a table like this in

your book
Hard or soft engineering?
Around the room are various flood prevention strategies.
Your task is to decide whether they are hard or soft engineering
Individual Work
strategies and explain your decision.

River straightening
Straightening the river speeds up the water so high
volumes of water can pass through an area
quickly.
PRINT
Advantages
● It can be used to reduce flood risk in built-

up areas.
Disadvantages
● Speeding up the river increases flood risk

downstream.
Dredging
Dredging makes the river deeper so it can
hold more water.
Advantages
PRINT
● More water can be held in the

channel.
Disadvantages
● Dredging needs to be done

frequently.
Afforestation
Trees increase the journey time for water to reach
the river channel.
Trees absorb water through their roots and release it

via transpiration.
PRINT
Advantages:
● Cheap and benefits local wildlife

● Roots hold the soil together to avoid stopping
channels from becoming blocked.
Disadvantages:
● will not prevent floods in times of extreme

precipitation.
Embankments
Raising the banks of a river means that it can hold more
water using stone, soil or concrete.
Advantages
● Cheap with a one-off cost

● Allows for flood water to be contained within the
river.
Disadvantages
● Looks unnatural.
● Water speeds up and can increase flood risk
downstream.
Dams and reservoirs
The dam traps water, which builds up behind it, forming a reservoir.
Water can be released in a controlled way.
Advantages
● Can be used to produce electricity by passing the water

through a turbine within the dam.
●
PRINT
Reservoirs can attract tourists.
Disadvantages
● Very expensive.
● Dams trap sediment which means the reservoir can hold
less water.
● Habitats are flooded often leading to rotting vegetation.
This releases methane which is a greenhouse gas.
● Settlements are lost leading to the displacement of people.
In developing countries locals are not always consulted
and have little say in where they are relocated.
Floodplain zoning
Allowing only certain land uses on the floodplain reduces
the risk of flooding to houses and important buildings.
Advantages
● More expensive buildings and land uses are further

away from the river, so have a reduced flood risk.
● Less damage is caused, leading to fewer insurance
PRINT
claims.
Disadvantages
● Not always possible to change existing land uses.

● Planners have to decide what type of flood to plan
for.
Flood warnings and preparation
The environmental agency monitors rivers and issues warnings via
newspapers, TV, radio and the internet when they are likely to flood
so people can prepare.
Advantages
● People have time to protect their properties, eg with

PRINT
sandbags.
● Many possessions can be saved, resulting in fewer insurance
claims.
Disadvantages
● Some people may not be able to access the warnings.

● Flash floods may happen too quickly for a warning to be
effective.
● They do not stop land from flooding - they just warn people
that a flood is likely.
Cut and stick fact hunt
Cut ONLY along the dotted lines of your worksheet.

Individual Work
Glue in the grey headings on a full bank page.

Move around the room to find the correct places to
stick each statement in your book.
You may want to share your answers with
classmates after 10 minutes.
Bonus: Can you label whether each strategy is a

hard or soft engineering solution?
Flood scheme: Description Advantages Disadvantages
Afforestation The dam traps water, which builds up behind it, Roots hold the soil together to avoid stopping Dredging needs to be done frequently.
forming a reservoir. Water can be released in a channels from becoming blocked.
controlled way.
Dredging Trees increase the journey time for water to More expensive buildings and land uses are Speeding up the river increases flood risk downstream.
reach the river channel. further away from the river, so have a reduced
Trees absorb water through their roots and flood risk.
release it via transpiration. Less damage is caused, leading to fewer
insurance claims.
Flood warnings and Straightening the river speeds up the water so It can be used to reduce flood risk in built-up will not prevent floods in times of extreme precipitation.
preparation high volumes of water can pass through an areas.
area quickly.
PRINT
Dams and reservoirs Dredging makes the river deeper so it can hold Cheap with a one-off cost Some people may not be able to access the warnings.
more water. Allows for flood water to be contained within the Flash floods may happen too quickly for a warning to
river. be effective.
They do not stop land from flooding - they just warn
people that a flood is likely.
Embankments Allowing only certain land uses on the Can be used to produce electricity by passing the Not always possible to change existing land uses.
floodplain reduces the risk of flooding to water through a turbine within the dam. Planners have to decide what type of flood to plan for.
houses and important buildings. Reservoirs can attract tourists.
Floodplain zoning The environmental agency monitors rivers and More water can be held in the channel. Looks unnatural.
issues warnings via newspapers, TV, radio and Water speeds up and can increase flood risk
the internet when they are likely to flood so downstream.
people can prepare.
River straightening Raising the banks of a river means that it can People have time to protect their properties, eg Very expensive.
hold more water using stone, soil or concrete. with sandbags. Settlements are lost leading to the displacement of
Many possessions can be saved, resulting in people. In developing countries locals are not always
fewer insurance claims consulted and have little say in where they are
relocated.
Flood scheme: Description Advantages Disadvantages
Afforestation Trees increase the journey time for water to Roots hold the soil together to avoid stopping will not prevent floods in times of extreme precipitation.
reach the river channel. channels from becoming blocked.
Trees absorb water through their roots and
release it via transpiration.
Dredging Dredging makes the river deeper so it can hold More water can be held in the channel. Dredging needs to be done frequently.
more water.
Flood warnings and The environmental agency monitors rivers and People have time to protect their properties, eg Some people may not be able to access the warnings.
preparation issues warnings via newspapers, TV, radio and with sandbags. Flash floods may happen too quickly for a warning to
the internet when they are likely to flood so Many possessions can be saved, resulting in be effective.
people can prepare. fewer insurance claims. They do not stop land from flooding - they just warn
Answers
people that a flood is likely.
Dams and reservoirs The dam traps water, which builds up behind it, Can be used to produce electricity by passing the Very expensive.
forming a reservoir. Water can be released in a water through a turbine within the dam. Settlements are lost leading to the displacement of
controlled way. Reservoirs can attract tourists. people. In developing countries locals are not always
consulted and have little say in where they are
relocated.
Embankments Raising the banks of a river means that it can Cheap with a one-off cost Looks unnatural.
hold more water using stone, soil or concrete. Allows for flood water to be contained within the Water speeds up and can increase flood risk
river. downstream.
Floodplain zoning Allowing only certain land uses on the More expensive buildings and land uses are Not always possible to change existing land uses.
floodplain reduces the risk of flooding to further away from the river, so have a reduced Planners have to decide what type of flood to plan for.
houses and important buildings. flood risk.
Less damage is caused, leading to fewer
insurance claims.
River straightening Straightening the river speeds up the water so It can be used to reduce flood risk in built-up Speeding up the river increases flood risk downstream.
high volumes of water can pass through an areas.
area quickly.
Watch the following video on the Thames barrier:
What sort of
engineering solution is
it?
Write three interesting
facts about the barrier.
Why is the barrier
important?
Can you think of any
criticisms of the
barrier?
Write out the flood prevention schemes in the following pattern.
Best
Scheme
Bonus:
Write 3 sentence to
explain your top
choice.
Write three
sentences to
explain your
bottom choice
Worst
Scheme
Best Scheme
PRINT (optional)
Worst Scheme
Flood scheme Description Advantages Disadvantages
Blends in with the existing beach.

Larger beaches appeal to tourists.
PRINT (optional)
Finally:

Potential map from memory exercise
PRINT (optional)
Title: What are the key features along a coastline?

DNA: Come up with at least 3 differences between these two
coastlines. What do they both have in common? Keywords for
Do It Now Activity
today:
● Headlands
● Bays
● Spits
● Longshore
Drift
● Prevailing
wind
● Arch
● Stack
● Stump
1. To be able to describe and explain the formation of headland and

Aims And Objectives
bays.
2. To be able to describe the formation of a headland.
3. To be able to describe the process of longshore drift and a spiit.

Think-pair-share
You have one minute to look at the diagram
Working Together
showing the Formation of Headlands and

Bays. Your task is to describe and explain
the difference between phase 1 and 2.
THINK: You have one minute to think about

what’s happening?
PAIR: You have a minute to exchange your

ideas with your partner.
SHARE: You will now share your ideas with

the rest of the class.
As your teacher explains how a headland is formed write down 3-5 key words you
hear mentioned in the process.
Everyone listening
Match the key word below (HEAD) to its definition (TAIL)
TAIL
HEAD
Individual Work
1. The curved outline left when the sea erodes the

A. Headland inside of a cave away.
B. Bay
2. A smooth curve of coast between two headlands.
C. Erosion
3. The land that juts or sticks out into the sea.
D. Arch
4. The remains of a stack which the sea has eroded
E. Stack
away.
F. Stump
5. The wearing away of rock, stones and soil by
rivers, waves, the wind or glaciers.
6. A pillar of rock left standing in the sea when the top
of the arch collapses.
Extension: Write everything and anything about the river Thames in Oxford
Watch the clip below and make notes on the formation of
a headland.
Everyone listening
Material is moved or is transported along the coast in a process
called longshore drift as seen below.
THINK: What
Working Together
does the
diagram show?
PAIR: Tell your

partner what it
shows.
SHARE: With the

rest of the class
Everyone listening
……...
A spit is
Summary quiz
1. Which of these processes creates headlands and bays:
a) Deposition b) Erosion c) Transportation

2. True or false: Is a headland made out of weaker rock?
3. Use the words below to put the formation of a headland landform in
order:
Cave Stump Arch Crack Stack
4. Which of these processes is longshore drift:
b) Erosion b) Deposition c) Transporation
Finally:

Title: How do humans use and abuse the coastline?

DNA: How many uses for the coastline and sea can you think of?
The photos below can be used as clues... Aim for 5 uses!
Do It Now Activity
Keywords for today:

● Microplastic
● Ecosystems
● Food chains
1. Understand the various uses humans have of the oceans

Aims And Objectives
and coastline.
2. Evaluate the environmental impact of these uses.

Overfishing
What is the
problem?
Everyone listening
What statistics
(numbers) are
used to explain the
problem?
How serious do
you think this
problem is?
Trashing the Oceans
What is the
problem?
Everyone listening
What statistics
(numbers) are
used to explain the
problem?
How serious do
you think this
problem is?
Cruise industry
What is the
problem?
Everyone listening
What statistics
(numbers) are
used to explain the
problem?
How serious do
you think this
problem is?
Rearrange the letters into create the different types of flood defence.
ANSWERS:
1. IONTATRESFORAF
POWER RECAP
2. SMAD AND 1. Afforestation

2. Dams and
VOIRSRESER
reservoirs
3. NELHANC 3. Channel
TRAIGHTSENING straightening
4. OODAINFLOPL 4. Floodplain zoning
5. Flood warning
INGZON
6. Embankments
5. DLOOF NINGWAR 7. Dredging
6. BANKEMMENTS
7. GINGREDD
In pairs, 1 minute to discuss:
Which video shocked you the most?

Why?
Working Together
Which problem do you think is the

hardest to solve? Why?
Which problem is the easiest to solve?
Why?
How are you responsible for changing
ocean environments?
For the rest of this lesson and homework:
Create a poster on one of the following Success criteria:
environmental topics we have Does your poster do the following things:

Individual Work
discussed in today’s lesson: 1. Describe the human action?

2. Explain why it is harmful to the
● Fishing environment?
3. Suggest ways humans can limit their
● Cruise industry impacts?
● Ocean Trash
Other things to consider:
Your poster needs to be educational to ● Have you used additional websites to

teach people how to look after the research your topic?
● Is your poster well presented?
coastline and ocean. ● Have you added colour, pictures and
diagrams?
Finally:

Title: Can the coastline be controlled?

DNA: Look at the photo below. List as many negative impacts as
you can of coastal erosion. Keywords for today:
Do It Now Activity
● Hard engineering
● Soft engineering
● Groynes
● Gabions
● Sea walls
● Managed retreat
● Beach nourishment
Bonus: Why do you

think the railway line
was built so close to the
coastline in the first
place?
1. Understand the different measures engineers and

Aims And Objectives
geographers use to control the coast.

2. So that next lesson you can put them into practice!

Watch the following video about coastal erosion in the UK.
What are the

impacts of coastal
Everyone listening
erosion in the UK?
Why don’t we
defend our entire
coastline?
Why should we
defend the
coastline?
Why shouldn’t we?

Colour code the statements into hard and soft engineering.
Expensive one off Can look ugly Works with nature Designed to
cost withstand severe
events
POWER RECAP
Construction Blends in with Strong The Thames Barrier

requires the use of surroundings is an example of this
heavy machinery. type of engineering.
Works against May not prevent Low cost Planting trees

nature severe events from (afforestation is an
taking place but will example of this type
reduce the impacts. of engineering)
events
PRINT


events
PRINT


Answers: Hard engineering Soft engineering
events
POWER RECAP


Coastal management solutions
Just like river flooding, humans have created a range of ways to control coastal erosion.
These methods can also be divided into hard and soft engineering.
Working Together
In pairs for one minute, discuss whether you think you have seen any of these
strategies in place before. Can you think what they might be intended to achieve?
Cut and stick fact hunt
Cut ONLY along the dotted lines of your worksheet.

Individual Work
Glue in the grey headings on a full bank page.

Move around the room to find the correct places to
stick each statement in your book.
You may want to share your answers with
classmates after 10 minutes.
Bonus: Can you label whether each strategy is a

hard or soft engineering solution?
Coastal scheme Description Advantages Disadvantages
Beach Nourishment Concrete walls that are placed at the foot of a Relatively cheap. Needs to be constantly replaced.
cliff to prevent erosion. They are curved to Maintains a natural-looking coastline. The sand has to be brought in from elsewhere.
reflect the energy back into the sea.
Sea Walls Wooden or rock structures built out at right Blends in with the existing beach. Can be damaged by storm waves.
angles into the sea. Larger beaches appeal to tourists. Areas have to be zoned off from the public, which
is unpopular.
Managed Retreat Large boulders placed at the foot of a cliff. Builds a beach - which encourages tourism. Not very strong.
They break the waves and absorb their They trap sediment being carried by longshore Looks unnatural.
energy. drift.
PRINT
Dune Nourishment Rocks are held in mesh cages and placed in Cheap - approximately £100 per metre. They look different to the local geology, as the
areas affected by erosion. Absorbs wave energy. rock has been imported from other areas.
The rocks are expensive to transport.
Rock Armour Managed retreat is the controlled flooding of low-lying Effective at protecting the base of the cliff. Land is lost as it is reclaimed by the sea.
coastal areas. If an area is at high risk of erosion, Sea walls usually have promenades so people can
managed retreat could be an option. It usually occurs
Landowners need to be compensated - this can
walk along them. cost between £5,000 - £10,000 per hectare.
where the land is of low value, for example farm land.
Gabions Marram grass planted on sand dunes Cheaper than a sea wall and easy to maintain. By trapping sediment it starves beaches further
stabilises the dunes and helps to trap sand to Can be used for fishing. down the coastline, increasing rates of erosion
build them up. elsewhere.
They look unattractive.
Groynes Sand is pumped onto an existing beach to This is a cheap option compared to paying for sea Waves are still powerful and can break down and
build it up. defences.
Creates a salt marsh which can provide habitats for wildlife
erode the sea wall.
and a natural defence against erosion and flooding. Expensive - approximately £2,000 per metre.
Salt marshes are diverse ecosystems supporting many
species.
Sea Walls
Concrete walls that are placed at the foot of a cliff to
prevent erosion. They are curved to reflect the energy
back into the sea.
Advantages
● Effective at protecting the base of the cliff.

PRINT
● Sea walls usually have promenades so

people can walk along them.
Disadvantages
● Waves are still powerful and can break down

and erode the sea wall.
● Expensive - approximately £2,000 per metre.
Rock Armour
Large boulders placed at the foot of a cliff. They
break the waves and absorb their energy.
Advantages
PRINT
● Cheaper than a sea wall and easy to

maintain.
● Can be used for fishing.
Disadvantages
● They look different to the local geology, as

the rock has been imported from other areas.
● The rocks are expensive to transport.
Beach nourishment
Sand is pumped from the seabed onto an
existing beach to build it up.
Advantages
PRINT
● Blends in with the existing beach.

● Larger beaches appeal to tourists.
Disadvantages
● Needs to be constantly replaced.

● The sand has to be brought in from
elsewhere.
Gabions
Rocks are held in mesh cages and placed in
areas affected by erosion.
Advantages
PRINT
● Cheap - approximately £100 per metre.

● Absorbs wave energy.
Disadvantages
● Not very strong.

● Looks unnatural.
Groynes
Wooden or rock structures built out at right angles into the
sea.
Advantages
PRINT
● Builds a beach - which encourages tourism.

● They trap sediment being carried by longshore
drift.
Disadvantages
● By trapping sediment it starves beaches further

down the coastline, increasing rates of erosion
elsewhere.
● They look unattractive.
Managed retreat
Managed retreat is the controlled flooding of low-lying coastal areas. If
an area is at high risk of erosion, managed retreat could be an option. It
usually occurs where the land is of low value, for example farm land.
Advantages
● This is a cheap option compared to paying for sea defences.

PRINT
● Creates a salt marsh which can provide habitats for wildlife

and a natural defence against erosion and flooding.
● Salt marshes are diverse ecosystems supporting many
species.
Disadvantages
● Land is lost as it is reclaimed by the sea.

● Landowners need to be compensated - this can cost between
£5,000 - £10,000 per hectare.
Dune nourishment
Marram grass planted on sand dunes stabilises
the dunes and helps to trap sand to build them
up.
Advantages
PRINT
● Relatively cheap.
● Maintains a natural-looking coastline.
Disadvantages
● Can be damaged by storm waves.

● Areas have to be zoned off from the
public, which is unpopular.
Coastal scheme: Description Advantages Disadvantages
Beach Nourishment Sand is pumped onto an existing beach to Blends in with the existing beach. Needs to be constantly replaced.
build it up. Larger beaches appeal to tourists. The sand has to be brought in from elsewhere.
Sea Walls Concrete walls that are placed at the foot of a Effective at protecting the base of the cliff. Waves are still powerful and can break down and erode
cliff to prevent erosion. They are curved to Sea walls usually have promenades so people can the sea wall.
reflect the energy back into the sea. walk along them. Expensive - approximately £2,000 per metre.
Managed Retreat Managed retreat is the controlled flooding of This is a cheap option compared to paying for sea Land is lost as it is reclaimed by the sea.
low-lying coastal areas. If an area is at high defences. Landowners need to be compensated - this can cost
risk of erosion, managed retreat could be an Creates a salt marsh which can provide habitats between £5,000 - £10,000 per hectare.
option. It usually occurs where the land is of for wildlife and a natural defence against erosion
Answers
low value, for example farm land. and flooding.

Salt marshes are diverse ecosystems supporting
many species.
Dune Nourishment Marram grass planted on sand dunes Relatively cheap. Can be damaged by storm waves.
stabilises the dunes and helps to trap sand to Maintains a natural-looking coastline. Areas have to be zoned off from the public, which is
build them up. unpopular.
Rock Armour Large boulders placed at the foot of a cliff. Cheaper than a sea wall and easy to maintain. They look different to the local geology, as the rock has
They break the waves and absorb their Can be used for fishing. been imported from other areas.
energy. The rocks are expensive to transport.
Gabions Rocks are held in mesh cages and placed in Cheap - approximately £100 per metre. Not very strong.
areas affected by erosion. Absorbs wave energy. Looks unnatural.
Groynes Wooden or rock structures built out at right Builds a beach - which encourages tourism. By trapping sediment it starves beaches further down
angles into the sea. They trap sediment being carried by longshore the coastline, increasing rates of erosion elsewhere.
drift. They look unattractive.
Write out the coastal defence schemes in the following pattern.
Best
Scheme
Bonus:
Write 3 sentence to
explain your top
choice.
Write three
sentences to
explain your
bottom choice
Worst
Scheme
Best Scheme
PRINT (optional)
Worst Scheme
Finally:

Title: Can you control the coast?

DNA: list as many features of the map of Meontown as you can recognise!
Do It Now Activity
Church Campsite Public Railway Nature Railway Contour

(with spire) House Station Reserve Line Lines
1. Apply our knowledge of coastal defences to defend the

Aims And Objectives
coastline around meontown

2. Practice our persuasive writing

Crisis in Meontown!
● Meteorologists, geologists, and cartographers have predicted the sea
will erode 50 meters inland this winter if flood defences are not put in
Everyone listening
place.
● You work for the local council and you have the responsibility of
choosing how to defend Meontown and it’s surrounding coastline from
the devastating winter storms that have been predicted.
● You asked the British Government for £20 million to defend the coast.
● But the British Government can only give £10 million to you.
● This means you can only afford to use one type of sea defence per
sector, MANAGED RETREAT must be one of them.
● You can only use the each type of defence once
Meontown stakeholders
Before we can work on saving Meontown and the surrounding area,
we need to find out more information about the area and people who
Working Together
live there.
As a class, we will take it in turns to read through statements of
various Meontown stakeholders.
As we do, you need to jot down reasons why they believe their sector
of the coastline is important.
We will share our ideas at the end of each statement.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UH_rDIrd7qkOsVJCCho4Mfq7RrmEo_0xzKm7G4HPH-E/edit?usp=sharing
Hamish Hayes
Why is this place

Working Together
socially, environmentally
or economically
important?
Dave Kirby
Why is this place

Working Together
or economically
important?
Jamie Lawson
Why is this place

Working Together
or economically
important?
Daisy Giles
Why is this place

Working Together
or economically
important?
Mrs Jones
Why is this place

Working Together
or economically
important?
Thomas Marment
Why is this place

Working Together
or economically
important?
Billy McInstosh
Why is this place

Working Together
or economically
important?
Label your map of meontown to show where each stakeholder lives
PRINT
Map of meontown split into its 5 sectors
Individual Work
Complete the table to show how you would protect the coastline
Sector 1 Sector 2 Sector 3 Sector 4 Sector 5
What strategy are you going to use? What strategy are you going to use? What strategy are you going to use? What strategy are you going to use? What strategy are you going to use?
Why have you chosen this strategy? Why have you chosen this strategy? Why have you chosen this strategy? Why have you chosen this strategy? Why have you chosen this strategy?
PRINT
Class discussion:
Which sector did you decide was the most important to protect?
Why?
Which sector did you think was the least important to protect? Why?
Where did you choose to use hard engineering? Why?
Where did you choose to use soft engineering? Why?
Why did it matter where to place the groynes?
Who do you think should make these decisions in real life?
Finally:

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Titles Aims and objectives

Title: River Introduction

Keywords for today:

1. The key portions of a river basin.

Tributaries, Watershed, confluence, source,

Make a note of these

more work it can do.

Create definitions for each of the bold words.

Your exercise book

And include the

For each term A-E.

Tell me three important things you learned about rivers today.

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Title: River Basin

1. River characteristics, you should be able to understand the basics of river

Make a note of these

What happens to discharge as it travels downstream?

What is Occupied Channel Width?

What happens to the occupied

channel width downstream?

What is Occupied Channel Depth?

What happens to the channel depth

What is average velocity?

What happens to the average velocity

What is Load Quantity?

What happens to load quantity

What is Load Particle Size?

What happens to load particle size

What is Channel Bed Roughness?

What happens to the channel bed roughness

What is Slope Angle?

What happens to the slope angle

How do all parts of this model relate to erosion?

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

Keywords for today:

Make a note of these

Write a sentence under 20 words explaining why you drew it.

1 How does a river Aims and objectives: Upper course

2 How are the key Aims and objectives: Meanders

3 How do humans Aims and objectives: HEP